Common Sense Living

Archive for the ‘Misc. Stuff’ Category

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You might remember that I took my car into the Lindenhurst Firestone before Thanksgiving to have it fixed. It makes a noise that through my research sounded like the rear hub assembly.

They said, no, the bearing is fine. The brakes rub a little and that’s what I hear.

The noise has made me increasingly crazier. So I took it in to have it fixed. They did the rear brakes. He said that there was rust build up and that accounts for the noise.

Guess what? That wasn’t it.

I know I should have listened to my inner self and taken it somewhere else, but I can get home from there. Now I’m stuck. I don’t have the money to have the car fixed again.

So I have a car that makes me crazy in the first place.  We are supposed to get 4-8 inches of snow, and it’s my late day. I get to try to drive home down dark country roads after dark in heavy blowing snow. I’m not happy.

I may end up staying overnight at the office. I’ve double filled the cat’s bowls just in case. What more can I do? It is what it is.

I hope that you have a safe vehicle, and if you’re in the snow path that you take it easy and stay safe.

Related articles

• Driving Safety Tips to Help You Weather the Winter Forecast (savings.com)
• Snow Lovers, Have I Got a Suggestion for You! (zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com)

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It always amazes me – what a crazy world we live in now.

There was a story in the paper this week about a cop who had pulled over a girl and given her a ticket. 2 days later, he left a note on her windshield at home.

“its…that ugly bald … cop that gave you a ticket…”

It goes on to say that he has not stopped thinking about her, and that he doubts that a pretty girl like her would ever to for a guy like him, but he is gving it a shot anyway.

Now, in my day, that would have been considered romantic. Even if we weren’t interested, it certainly would have been flattering, and something to laugh about with our girlfriends for days. Talk about making our friends jealous! If we weren’t interested, we just wouldn’t respond.

She filed a lawsuit claiming that this is an invasion of her privacy and that this has caused her great fear and anxiety. That he used his access to her personal information to stalk her.

Seriously?

Now you’re thinking, well, what if he’s a creep?

That is possible, but most creeps would have tried to use this as a get out of the ticket tactic. He did his job and gave her the ticket. Maybe thats why she’s so pissed. But a lawsuit?

He could have gone to her door, or called her. Instead, he simply left a note on her car.

Does a guy now have to worry about the politically correct way to ask someone out?

What do you think? Was this romantic or stalking?

Does it justify a lawsuit?

Related articles

• Stalking: Know it, Name it, Stop it (preventviolence.wordpress.com)
• Great…Someone Finally Killed Romance (badlandsbadley.wordpress.com)
• Lessons from a Beta Cop Who Scares Woman (bothwell.typepad.com)
• Lawsuit: Illinois cop issues ticket, asks for date (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

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Its a beautiful day. Sunny and its going to be in the 50s.

And I’m stuck at home. Isn’t that terrible?

Car is in the shop. I can’t get anywhere – except on foot.

Turns out its a beautiful day for that! I couldn’t have timed that better if I tried.

The pile of Christams decorations downstairs waiting to be put away will still be there tomorrow. Enjoying life more is my resolution for this year.

Sometimes you have to take a day and not do anything in particular.

We’ll see how long that lasts…

Related articles

• Taking Dogs For Walks in the Winter (iowadogtrust.wordpress.com)
• Winter weekend adventure (becketadventures.wordpress.com)

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I originally got in the habit of showering at night because I had to hit the ground running in the morning.

I just took one now. Its wonderful.

I know they say you’re not supposed to take a hot shower, but its great to be all toasty and warm, and relaxed, and soft and smooth. What better way to drift off to sleep?

I even had a glass of wine before.

And my practical side says that the sheets stay cleaner

Which are you -

A hot shower to relax at night, or a cooler shower to wake up in the morning?

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Can you feel it?

There’s something different in the air tonight. Something magical. It inspires joy and hope.

Tonight is the Winter Solstice.

We start to come out of the darkness!

Judging by a lot of the posts I’ve seen today, a lot of people are feeling pensive today.

I thought about where I was last year – facing eviction and struggling to keep the utilities on. My vehicle was on its last legs and would die in the next few days. My dinner came from the food pantry. All that pumpkin stuff I made last year? The pumpkins were given to me.

No, I didn’t tell you. Only one person knows how bad things were. I faced it with the help of my sister, and the grace of God.

It was the culmination of dark times for me.

But like tonight – it started to change. Gradually – bit by bit, there was more light.

Things are still not as great as I would like, but I am grateful for every bit I have this year. Imagine being grateful to be able to buy toliet paper. I’ve been happy to spend my last dime on a great dinner and gifts to make this Christmas as special as I can.

The whole thing has taken a toll on my health. I hate to think where I’d be if I didn’t have healthy eating habits. But I believe that as things get better, so will my health.

Believe.

Believe that things will get better.

Keep trying.

Work hard.

Never give up.

The light will come.

This too shall change.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Related articles

• Winter Solstice ~ Merry Yule (fordrinksandtips.com)
• Winter Solstice 2011 (gallery32.wordpress.com)
• ‘Tis The Winter Solstice (openspacesfengshui.com)
• Winter Solstice Signals Start of Storytelling Season (indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com)
• Winter Solstice 2011: When It Is and What to Know About Start of Winter (ibtimes.com)
• Kissing Under The Mistletoe: Traditions for the Winter Solstice (listyles.wordpress.com)